A Location-based Mobile Alert Model for Blood Bank

By:

Bolante, Sam Wesson A.

Aloot, Christele Rhae S.

Cristobal, Myka

Jacildo, Micole

Pagui-en, Paula Grace S.

 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE - - - - - - - - - - -1

INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - -3

METHODOLOGY - - - - - - - - - - -5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION - - - - - - - - -7

CONCLUSION - - - - - - - - - - -8

REFERENCES- - - - - - - - - - -9
 3

I. Introduction

Human Blood is a specialized fluid that carries nutrients, oxygen and waste products inside and

outside the body's cells. To maximize blood supply, for those who need blood at any time as a

result of blood donation, this is called a blood bank for transfusion, which needs to be collected,

processed, which preserved for further use. Blood Transfusion is the method of intravenous

blood transfer through the vein. Transfusions are used to substitute missing blood components in

specific medical conditions. Over the past decades, transfusions have taken place by replacing

the whole blood that has been used, but in modern times, transfusion practices only replace the

blood components that have been lost, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, blood plasma,

clotting factor and platelets. Blood groups A, B and O were discovered by Landsteiner during a

laboratory experiment in which he mixed blood samples taken from his staff when he established

the basic principles of A, B and O compatibility. (Kayode, 2019) According to World Health

Organization (WHO), a National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) coordinates all activities

concerned with blood donor recruitment and the collection, testing, processing, storage and

distribution of blood and blood products, the clinical use of blood and surveillance of adverse

transfusion events. According to the latest survey by the Healthcare Information and

Management Systems Society, most healthcare IT managers agree that mobile technology would

have a significant effect on patient care.(McNickle, 2012). As blood banks need to interact

directly with blood donors and patients, mobile devices are becoming increasingly valuable tools

for efficiency and reliability. This is shown in the literature on mobile device growth in Kenya.

Smart apps are used to deliver reliable, high-quality services in order to communicate directly

with patient healthcare organisations. The use of mobile phone services in Kenya has been

remarkably successful through various projects in different fields, including sport, agriculture,
 4

education, transport, banking, health, among others. (Bloodlink Foundation, 2008). Mobile

health has proven to deliver healthcare economically; it enhances patient outcomes; it increases

access and affordability of healthcare. Patients will obtain data and improve their own health

accountability and this will expand patients 'access to healthcare by breaking down the quality,

space and time barriers (Culver, 2010). The purpose of this study is therefore to allow

traceability at a given time or in a situation like an emergency for the required blood type in the

vicinity of a patient. Blood users refers in this study are any individual or organization which

may require blood transfusion; including patients, emergency medical services, and etc.
 5

II. Methodology

Mobile Alert Architecture for a Location-based Mobile Alert Model (Mundama 2013).

Smartphone consumer keys a code to invoke the application service in their phone system.

Device recognizes and prompts an interface to allow for selection of blood type. User selects

type of blood and sends a question to find specific units of blood. When GPS is activated for the

mobile unit, the user's location can be obtained immediately using GPS satellites. Instead the

model is designed to triangulate using at least three base transceiver stations to determine the

location of the handset.

A question, containing geographical coordinates of the handset and blood type identified, is

forwarded to a national Emergency Services Routing Proxy (ESRP) in a short message format.

To filter the question an SMS gateway uses a Location-to-Service Translation Protocol (LoST)

server. A LoST server uses its database to map input values to one or more Uniform Resource

Identifiers (URIs) and return those URIs, along with optional information. The same form of

query may also request the validation of the position and service numbers, either in conjunction

with a mapping request or separately.

Emergency Services Routing Proxy (ESRP) is a telecommunication system that enables correct

call or SMS routing regardless of the originator's network access. In this situation, within a near

distance to serve the originating station site, a call or SMS is routed to a primary Public Safety

Answering Point (PSAP).

The machine then searches for inventory of blood banks within the area, identifies and retrieves

blood bank locations with amounts of blood units. Instead, the Location-based Mobile Alert

System checks in the database and compares all subscriber data against blood donors and/or

Emergency Medical Service (EMS) with phones receiving signal from the same BTSs as the
 6

initiator (mobile user) and automatically activates notifications assuming they are close the

originator.

Donors receive updates in the form of short messages via a Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP)

gateway.
 7

III. Results and Discussion

A total of 40 individuals volunteered for the Location-based Mobile Warning System

experimental study but 32 completed the simulation exercise with success. The experiment was

performed in area Nairobi. Registered participant, received an online briefing / instruction on the

measures to follow on the model before being asked to send any blood type notation (SMS) (e.g.:

A+) to a given telephone number randomly. The online briefing also had a section of the forum

where participants could post feedback and suggestions about their device experience. They were

also a hotline, to allow direct communication with the researcher. All participants inside Nairobi

have been dispersed.

Delay > 3", 9.375%

Successful , 90.625%

Figure 3.1 System Simulation report

The system was evaluated using scenario simulation to determine the availability and reliability

of the system in the Nairobi region. .Of the 32 participants who participated in the experiment,

29 (90.625%) received an immediate update on the position details of the nearest blood bank,

while the remaining 3 participants (9.375 %) received update but more than 3 minutes late.

Hence our model achieved a framework for mobile alerts.

 8

IV. Conclusion

The national blood transfusion service will introduce well-defined information technology /

information management strategies to achieve high-quality output that is consistently applicable

to all aspects of the health sector

i. The National Blood Transfusion Service should untie and open IT / IS policies that allow

young innovative technical minds to contribute to the quality of service of the

organization that would ultimately help to achieve the goals of blood supply at the WHO.

ii. The Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation should therefore develop well-

defined research and technology facilities, for example for the National Blood

Transfusion Service, with a goal of improving blood health and accessibility across the

country.

iii. Technical advice and professional development for managing and operating blood banks

should be given.

iv. Hospitals operating private blood transfusion services should look forward to adopting

global / national quality of operation for blood transfusion that would help promote

harmonious organizational management.

V. References:
 9

1. Kayode, A. A., Adeniyi, A. E., Ogundokun, R. O., & Ochigbo, S. A. (2019). An

Android based blood bank information retrieval system. Journal of blood medicine, 10, 119–125.

Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.2147/JBM.S197350

2. McNickle, M. (2012). HIMSS Survey: Future Belongs to Mobile Technology.

Retrieved from InformationWeek Healthcare:

http://www.informationweek.com/healthcare/mobile- wireless/himss-survey-future-belongs-to-

mobile-te/240144328

3. Bloodlink Foundation. (2008). Achieve better health: Texting for Life Project.

Retrieved from Bloodlink Foundation: http://www.bloodlinkfoundation.org/texting_for_life.htm

4. Molly, M. (2010). mHealth apps forecast to increase threefold by 2012. Retrieved from

Healthcare IT News: https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/mhealth-apps-forecast-increase-

threefold-2012

5. Mundama, Benjamin & Onderi, Joseph. (2013). A Location-based Mobile Alert Model

for Blood Bank. 10.13140/RG.2.2.20690.04807.